High DRAM prices push smartphone makers towards reballed memory

What happened

According to TrendForce, rising contract prices for mobile DRAM are leading more smartphone brands to use reballed memory in their cheapest models. TrendForce expects reballed memory to account for about 3–4% of the smartphone market in 2026 and to reach 7–9% in 2027. Most reballed memory on the market today is LPDDR4X 4GB, used mainly in 4G smartphones priced below CNY 1,299. Reballed memory consists of chips recovered from used devices and fitted with new solder balls, allowing smartphone makers to absorb some of the rising component costs without raising retail prices. With DRAM price increases expected to accelerate in the first quarter of 2027, TrendForce expects cheaper components and reballed memory to gradually move into higher price segments. However, even as adoption grows in 2027, reballed memory is expected to account for a relatively small share of total LPDRAM bit consumption in smartphones, and TrendForce does not expect it to significantly slow the rise in DRAM contract prices. TrendForce also points to risks: reballed components are harder to source and less consistent in quality, which could affect reliability and shorten device lifespans, damage consumer confidence and brand reputation, and lead to higher warranty and repair costs.

Impact and signal

Affected components and suppliers

Source and time

Source: Evertiq · 11/11/2026 · View original source